For Family Of Indian Woman Kidnapped In Kabul, Day Of Disbelief, Despair

Kolkata: Judith D'Souza, who was kidnapped in Kabul on Thursday night, was on her second stint in the Afghan capital. Attached to an international non-profit, she works with women, children and loves her job and the city, her family says.

For the family of the 40-year-old woman in Kolkata, it has been a distressing day. "Judie come back," is all her father can say as he breaks down. An ailing Benzel D'Souza, 78, has not been able to sleep since a phone call at around 1:30 am from India's ambassador in Afghanistan.

The ambassador informed them that Judith, who has worked with the Agha Khan foundation in Kabul for the last one year, had been kidnapped while she was on her way home last night.
  She was returning home from a party last night in a car with a security guard when she was kidnapped, according to her family. The driver and security guard were also whisked away.

Judith's mother Gloria had spoken to her just two days ago and she was returning home for a holiday on June 15. "I want the government to get my daughter back safe and soon," she said.

Not once had her sister hinted that Kabul was a dangerous city, said Agnes, Judith's older sister and a school teacher. "She seemed to love the place," she added.
 Agnes and Judith went to city's Loreto School. Judith then went on to study political science in St Xavier's College and moved to social work.

Judith's father Benzel needs regular dialysis and is devastated at the moment. "I appeal to chief minister and the foreign minister to please do everything possible to get my daughter back. We are in their hands."

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj has spoken to her family. In response to a tweet from her brother Jerome, who works in Bengaluru, the minister said the government is "doing everything to rescue her."